Tree Trunk Vase Appraisal

Vintage Porcelain Figural Tree Trunk Bud Vase

This item is a polychrome porcelain figural bud vase, likely of European or Japanese origin, dating to the mid-20th century. The piece features a young boy dressed in rustic harvest attire, including a lavender shirt, blue vest, and mustard-yellow trousers. He is holding a golden sheaf of wheat and stands adjacent to a vertically oriented bud vase modeled to resemble a weathered birch or aspen tree trunk. The tree trunk is finished in a white glaze with hand-painted textured 'bark' details accented in gold gilding. Small green molded leaves sprout from the sides of the trunk for added organic detail. The boy's face is painted in a classic style with rosy cheeks and blue eyes, suggesting a folk-art influence. The base is integrated and scalloped with gold gilt highlights along the bottom edge. In terms of condition, the gilding shows moderate rubbing and wear consistent with age, particularly along the rim of the vase and the edges of the base. There is some minor surface dirt and light crazing visible in the glaze. No major chips or cracks are immediately apparent in the primary view, though the textured nature of the 'wheat' and 'leaves' makes them prone to small fleabites. The craftsmanship is typical of mid-market decorative porcelain figurines from the 1940s-1960s, designed for mantel or shelf display.